Dear Lent,
Fat Tuesday? I’ve had a Fat February. I have been on a bit of a bender this past month. Just a week ago I was smashing egg rolls, scorpion bowls, and spare ribs at the Rainbow Dragon on West Broadway. On Saturday, I ate dinner and about three hours later, I decided that a pizza from Anchovies was a ‘good idea.’ I have been drinking wine like it’s my second job;I lost my wallet last weekend and I was this close to losing my iPhone this weekend. I know. I need to lock it up.
In anticipation of your arrival, I thought about giving up pizza, mayo, and all forms of sweets. I almost bought a $400.00 Clean food cleanse off of the internet. I even made an impromptu trip to Wholefoods just for you. I bought organic vegetables, quinoa, and something called Kombucha. Everybody around me has been talking about what they are giving up for you. Fried food, chocolate, potato chips, candy, pizza, wine, beer – you’re getting it all. However, all of these sacrifices revolve around food and drink. I hate to be a whistle blower, Lent, but this was a huge red flag.
I saw you getting off of the Red Line at Broadway this morning. I was going to say hello, but then something stopped me. You looked different. Something was off. I was curious so I followed you down A Street and then I saw you take off your beard. I know who you are and by the time you read this everyone else will know too. You are not Lent – you are a diet.
Go home diet. This isn’t your time. Giving up mayo and pizza will not make me more Christ-like nor will it deepen my faith; and frankly I don’t think JC really cares if I eat that crap or not. Instead, I have decided to do at least one good deed a day for the next 40 days. Whether it’s as small as holding a door for someone, volunteering at a local soup kitchen, picking up trash off of the street, or calling the owner of a lost wallet that I find on Hanover St in the North End at 3:00am on a Friday night – (thank you so much) – I will do 40 good deeds. I think that this will have a greater impact on my inner self, the good of humanity, and maybe I will even find out what the real Lent is up to.
Yours truly,
Alexandra Ryan
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Not only am I laughing hysterically……………it makes sense. Good deeds, not giving up a fried food….is what it’s all about. Go check on your elderly neighbor to see if she/he needs anything from the store, etc., etc.
Dad
I LOVE your Dear Lent letter. When my Mom died, I knew she would not want flowers or donations because she never wanted people to do anything for her. So in her obituary I wrote “In lieu of flowers or donations, please extend a kindness to someone in need, as Nanny so often did during her lifetime”. 4 years later, people still call me and tell me about a kindness that they have done in her memory, and it warms my heart and keeps her alive in my memory. I have a little stickie in my desk drawer at work reminding me to do a kindness each day in her memory; it is the best part of each day. Good for you for reaching out to make a difference in the world–I assure you it will come back to you a hundredfold. xo–Mal
I am going to follow your lead and do a good deed each day for someone as well. I try to practice this as much as I can but I will be more aware of it each day for 40 days. I also decided to go to church every Sunday as well. You can find time to do some many other things in life. You really should be able to find in an hour for Mass….
Loved your article…
Thanks!